Reborn in Japan as a Chef God
Chapter 136: The Chef’s Initial Aspiration (Seventh Update!)

Chapter 136: Chapter 136: The Chef’s Initial Aspiration (Seventh Update!)

"Ladies and gentlemen—"

On the stage of the small auditorium, the Far Moon Commander, Tiqie Xianzuowen, spoke into the microphone, "Congratulations to all of you for making it through the first week of the new school year."

"In the past three years of junior high, you have delved deeply into the basic skills of cooking and have come to understand a variety of ingredients. In courses such as nutrition, business management, cooking theory, cultivation theory, and public health, you have engaged in corresponding practical exercises. Therefore, you have earned the right to stand on the stage of Far Moon High School..."

"But!"

Tiqie Xianzuowen took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "What will test you in the future is not only skills and knowledge. More importantly, it is the spirit and confidence to survive as a chef!"

"This special course, held on weekends, is a process of selection and elimination. Some people may have been excellent in the past and are excellent now, but that doesn’t guarantee future excellence. Others may have been lackluster because their rough exteriors have not yet been polished. Perhaps, because of this class, they will be sculpted into shining gems!"

Xianzuowen scanned the seats of the small auditorium.

Not a seat was empty.

Previously, the course’s publicity did not attract much attention from the students, but this morning, the Far Moon campus forum was abuzz. Numerous students woke from their sleep and hurried to the auditorium.

Those who arrived early naturally found seats; those who were late had to squeeze into the last row of the corridor, and even outside the all-glass structure of the small auditorium, it was packed with people standing. The school’s administration was forced to urgently activate the external transfer giant screens, and the students who heard the news later crowded into the square to watch the broadcast.

"Now, let me introduce our guest..."

The female presenter, Kawashima Reika, was also invited on stage, holding the microphone with uncontrollable excitement in her voice.

"Firstly, the Minister of the Neon Department from the IGO, an international gourmet organization—"

A roaring applause ensued, lasting from inside the auditorium to the outside.

The IGO, covering the globe, is akin to the United Nations of the culinary world. About five to six years ago, Shinohara Shigetaro took over from the voluntarily retired head of the Shi Lin Temple, officially taking charge of IGO’s Neon Department, and his reputation spread worldwide.

He is a guest of a stature equivalent to that of the Far Moon Commander.

"The second guest, the female lead of the IGO’s Neon Department, Miss Liangzi Lina!"

"The third guest, ’The Living Legend,’ the legendary graduate who finished at Far Moon with the highest scores ever, Mr. Dojima Yin!"

...

From the IGO’s side, there were several top-tier chefs present, and on the Far Moon’s side, besides Tiqie Xianzuowen, there were many esteemed professors, such as Roland Chapele and Miyzaki Takuo.

Of course, there were administrative personnel as well, such as the current director of the Food Duel Administration, Keiru Kuushou.

After the introductions, the Far Moon Commander stepped down and took a seat in the guest area.

"Next, let me introduce the main guest lecturer for the special elective course—" Kawashima Reika took a deep breath, "please welcome the top-tier chef from the Aoki Sect, Aoki Motota, to the stage!"

As thunderous applause erupted, Aoki Motota, still in simple monastic attire, stepped up with a vigorous stride.

"Hello, everyone."

Aoki Motota looked around the small auditorium, seeing the youthful faces, and couldn’t help but laugh heartily into the microphone, "Such youthful vigor, it reminds me of my green days when I first arrived at Shi Lin Temple to practice!"

"But—"

Suddenly, his tone shifted, and Aoki Motota’s voice deepened, "The reality is, my classroom cannot accommodate so many students!"

"Most of you will be eliminated in the first class."

"The first lesson is called ’Breakthrough’!" Aoki Motota’s shiny forehead reflected the sunlight above his head, "Don’t misunderstand!"

He suddenly yelled.

"I am not asking you to show off your cooking skills," he continued, "but to reveal the sentiment of being a chef!"

The sentiment of being a chef?

The auditorium erupted with murmurs, and outside, a large group of students stirred similarly.

"Think about why you wanted to learn cooking, why you trained night and day in the kitchen, and sweated more than your ordinary peers!" Aoki Motota said, "Find the original aspiration that made you want to become a chef!"

"Be true to your original aspiration!"

"So, return to that original aspiration. Cook a dish with that sentiment. I don’t care about the techniques used in the dish, I only look at the sentiment it conveys. If it moves me and the other two assistant instructors, then you will qualify to learn in my class."

After speaking, Aoki Motota fell silent, letting the Far Moon School students below discuss among themselves.

"This class seems really extraordinary!" muttered Xingping Chuangzhen as the group from Polar Star Dormitory sat together.

Ichise Hui sat with his arms crossed, his eyes sparking with curiosity. "One assistant instructor is Si Yingshi, but who is the other?"

Hearing his murmur, nearby, Tanaka Hikari secretly glanced at Sen Tian Makoto, who looked composed as usual, admiring her mental toughness.

"In every aspect, Makki is incredible!" Tanaka Hikari clenched her hands, her palms full of sweat. She might have been naive, but she knew that when Makki’s childhood friend made his appearance on stage, the entire academy would surely shake like a tsunami.

Although she had always heard from Makki that Xia Yu was amazing, Tanaka Hikari didn’t have a clear concept of Xia Yu’s "amazingness."

Even the news of Xia Yu defeating Tiqie Helinai in a private food duel was met with skepticism by Tanaka Hikari.

Guest seats in the auditorium.

"He’s coming out soon!" Dojima Yin chuckled mischievously.

Liangzi Lina, with her ethereal demeanor, glanced at him, saying indifferently, "I think he’s going to turn Far Moon upside down..."

Dojima Yin’s smile swiftly vanished.

Shinohara Shigetaro, listening to their conversation, smirked inwardly. There was a time when that young man, then still under the protection of his grandfather’s wings, had begun to grow, securing a recognition from Far Moon High School’s upper echelons.

"Please welcome the first assistant instructor, the first of the ’Ten Masters of Far Moon’, ’Table White Knight,’ Si Yingshi!"

The applause that followed was no less enthusiastic than when Shinohara Shigetaro and Aoki Motota had appeared.

To a group of Far Moon students, a grand master chef might still seem far off, but the ’Ten Masters of Far Moon’ were a different story—living idols of the campus, discussed incessantly by the students, both during and outside of classes.

One can say that each member of the Ten Masters possessed unparalleled popularity within Far Moon.

With white hair and an elegant demeanor, Si Yingshi took the stage, instantly capturing the hearts of countless female students.

"Senior! Senior! Look here!" a female fan screamed from below.

On stage, Si Yingshi, impeccable in his etiquette, scanned the audience with a smile, sending the female fans into a frenzy.

"Is this an idol academy or what?" Backstage, Xia Yu heard the shrill shouts from outside and was slightly dumbfounded.